Euro NCAP raises concern on 2021 Renault Zoe's 0-star score

The Euro NCAP recently announced its final safety ratings of 2021, covering the range from the best to the worst that the car industry has to offer across vehicle categories. 

Amongst the 11 tested in the last tested in the cycle – the 2021 Renault Zoe EV was the biggest surprise, and not in a good way, after it scored a 0-Star overall safety rating.

The Zoe is the poorest performer of 2021, breaking Renault’s longstanding tradition developing some of the safest cars ever tested by Euro NCAP, such as the Laguna, Espace, Megane and Captur models.

Also read: Top Rank: What are the safest cars according to ASEAN NCAP?

Euro NCAP adds “The (2021) Zoe, a facelift introduced in 2020, received several battery improvements but no added safety. On the contrary, the seat-mounted side airbag which previously protected head and thorax has been replaced by a less effective thorax-only airbag, representing a degradation in occupant protection. The new Zoe offers poor protection in crashes overall, poor vulnerable road user protection and lacks meaningful crash avoidance technology, disqualifying it for any stars.”

This is how the 2021 Renault Zoe fared:

• Adult Occupant Protection: 43%
• Child Occupant Protection: 52%
• Pedestrian Protection / Vulnerable Road User (VRU) protection: 41%
• Safety Assist technologies: 14% (As tested without AEB, and Lane Keep Assist)

Michiel van Ratingen, Secretary General of Euro NCAP said, “Renault was once synonymous with safety.  The Laguna was the first car to get five stars, back in 2001.  But these disappointing results for the Zoe and the Dacia Spring (from Renault’s no-frills sub-brand) show that safety has now become collateral damage in the group’s transition to electric cars. 

He added, “It is cynical to offer the consumer an affordable green car if it comes at the price of higher injury risk in the event of an accident.  Other cars, such as the FIAT 500e (Euro NCAP: 4-Stars), recently awarded 5-stars in Green NCAP, show that safety does not need to be sacrificed for environmental cleanliness.”

Closer to home, the Renault Zoe was first introduced in 2016 at introductory price of RM 146k. Its EV drivertrain featured a 90 PS / 220 Nm electric motor, powered by a 22 kWh lithium-ion traction battery located in the floor. A driving range of up to 210 km was claimed.

In 2019, the Zoe facelift received more power, read 135 PS and 245 Nm, and an increased driving range of up to 390 km courtesy of a 52 kW capacity battery. 

Whilst the facelifted Zoe was not officially introduced here, the pre-facelift model can still be obtained through certain car-sharing / leasing platforms locally.  

Also read: In Brief: Renault Koleos Signature – Is it worth RM180K?

Also read: Renault Malaysia updates all Renault Subscription plans